HIT: In a double dose of encouraging news, New Jersey’s unemployment rate fell below 9 percent for the first time in four years last month as the state once again took in more tax dollars than the Christie administration expected

HIT: Princeton based Stuart Country Day School senior Jennifer Klejst receiving Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting for her work with Alzheimer’s patients.

HIT: A film created by Pennington School students has been awarded the prize for best comedy at the Green Mountain Film Festival’s High School Filmmakers Showcase. The short film, titled “The Puppet,” was written by senior James Yeager of East Windsor; directed by seniors Madeleine Derveloy of Belle Mead and Dane Kunkel of Yardley, Pa.; and produced by junior Katharine Rintala of New Hope, Pa.

HIT: Curtis Granderson is back with the Yankees after being hit by a pitch in his first at bat of spring training and fracturing his right forearm.

HIT: More than 65 students from Mercer County Technical Schools competing in the SkillsUSA New Jersey State competition with Michael Elonis (1st Place winner in the Collision Repair Technician competition) and Zachary Strong (1st Place in the Building Maintenance competition) earning the opportunity to compete at the National SkillsUSA Competiton in Kansas City, Mo. this June.

HIT: Through their “Canned Food Challenge,” students at Slackwood Elementary School in Lawrence were able to donate more than 300 cans of food to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

HIT: The state will reimburse Princeton nearly the full amount officials had requested to cover the cost of the town’s historic consolidation, and it could allow a cut in the municipal tax rate.

HIT: The 38th annual St. George Greek Festival in Hamilton, 1200 Klockner Road, today from noon to 11:30 p.m. and tomorrow from noon to 7 p.m.

HIT: Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay’s shoulder surgery was a success.

HIT: The Princeton based American Boychoir will be featured at 4 p.m. tomorrow as guests at a live taping of the popular NPR radio show “From the Top,” with Christopher O’Riley. The taping on the Princeton University campus will air nationally the week of June 3. For tickets ($30 to $50) princeton.edu/utickets/

HIT: The Petty’s Run archeological dig, tucked behind the Old Barracks Museum and beside the Statehouse in Trenton reopened to the public last Tuesday as an historical site.

HIT: The Ben Franklin Elementary School in Lawrence being awarded the National Wildlife Federations’ Eco School U.S.A. Green Flag for exceptional and outstanding commitment to sustainable curricula and school operations. It’s the only school in New Jersey to receive this honor.